Using agronomic biofortification to boost zinc, selenium, and iodine concentrations of food crops grown on the loess plateau in China

Abstract

Micronutrient malnutrition among humans is typically caused by micronutrient deficiency in soils and then staple food crops grown on these soils. In this study, field trials were conducted to investigate the biofortification of micronutrients in the edible parts of winter wheat, maize, soybean, potato, canola, and cabbage. Fertilizers of Se, Zn and I were applied to soil independently or together, while Se and Zn were sprayed as solution on winter wheat in another part of the trials. Selenium, when applied to the soil in the form of sodium selenate, whether alone or combined with Zn and/or I, was effective in increasing Se to around target levels in all of the tested crops. Selenium as sodium selenite was effective as a foliar application to winter wheat, increasing it from 25 to 312 µg kg-1 in wheat grain with 60 g Se ha-1. For Zn, soil-applied zinc sulphate was only found to be effective for increasing the Zn concentration in cabbage leaf and canola seed, with 35 and 61 mg kg-1 , respectively, while foliar zinc sulphate application was effective in biofortifying winter wheat, increasing grain Zn from 20 to 30 mg kg-1. While for I, soilapplied potassium iodate was only effective in increasing I concentration in cabbage leaf, and biofortification of the other crops was not possible. The enhancements of Se, Zn, and I concentration resulting from either the single or combined application of microelement fertilizers were similar. Therefore, agronomic biofortification of edible parts of various food crops with Zn, Se, and I can be an effective way to increase micronutrient concentrations, and the effectiveness depends on crop species, fertilizer forms and application methods.

Biofortification of common buckwheat microgreens and seeds with different forms of selenium and iodine

“…There have been some comprehensive studies on the interactions between Se and I in plant uptake processes, as well as on their distribution within plants and their selected chemical properties in plants. 10,[17][18][19] However, there has been little consideration of the interactions between various chemical forms of Se and I, in terms of their effects on the physiological and biochemical characteristics of the plants. 8,20,21 More recently, common buckwheat has become an increasingly important and promising alternative crop because it can be cultivated across a wide range of growth conditions.…”

Can biofortification of zinc improve the antioxidant capacity and nutritional quality of beans?

“…Agronomic biofortification define the process of increase the concentration of essential elements in portions of plants through fertilization. This strategy was developed as a food-based method to help to decrease widespread deficiencies in Fe and Zn that is prevalent in developing countries (Mao et al, 2014).…”

Foliage applied boron improves the panicle fertility, yield and biofortification of fine grain aromatic rice

“…Micronutrient malnutrition is a major human health problem in the developing world (Yang et al, 2007;Khan et al, 2010;Farooq et al, 2012); however, biofortification offers an attractive and economical solution of this important issue (Mao et al, 2014). Increase in kernel B contents by foliage application of B indicated that, other than breeding efforts, foliage application of micronutrients is also a pragmatic option (Table 5).…”